At the Auto China motorshow in 2010, Mercedes-Benz previewed the design language of the current, second-generation CLS sports saloon with the Shooting Brake concept car, which generally received positive reviews.
It didn’t take long for the premium carmaker to announce its intention to expand the range of the CLS series with a second body style based on that study, while the company even confirmed that the Shooting Brake model would arrive in dealerships during 2012.
Over the months that followed, we saw several scoops of the CLS Shooting Brake, and now our spy shooters travelled all the way to northern Sweden to film the sleek five-door model during winter testing.
Compared to the concept model, the only noteworthy changes we can see concern the slightly stretched rear window panes and the marginally higher roofline, which should add some valuable inches of space for both passengers and their luggage.
Having the CLS sports saloon in its arsenal, Mercedes was able to veer closer to the station wagon category than the Audi A7 Sportback, though as you can see in the video (about 2 minutes into the clip), the Sporting Brake has far more elegant lines and a sportier shape than traditional estates like the E-Class Wagon parked beside it.
Mercedes won't tell us yet what kind of powerplants will be offered on the CLS Shooting Brake, but it's safe to assume that it will get the same engines as the sedan ranging from a 2.2-liter turbo diesel with 204HP for Europe to a 5.5-liter bi-turbocharged V8 with up to 557-horsepower and 800 Nm of torque in the CLS 63 AMG.
17 Comments:
I love wagons, but this just isn't doing anything for me.
I guess I'm in love with that new Jag wagon. I'll never own one but I damn well want one. I'll be happy enough with my 328i wagon.
can't automotive writers just say "design" without adding "language" after it? Seriously... who looks at a car going by and says... "gee, I like the design language of the Hyundai family of cars lately"
It all boils down to a company's actual experience with a particular vehicle or category of drivers. That is why it pays to shop around for insurance especially at "Clearance Auto" now.
Then too, the more recent trend to naming wagons (station wagons) as Shooting Brakes is an odd one. It's like calling a duck a chicken, it's still a duck! Shooting Brake doesn't magically make them more appealing although I've never had a problem with wagons as a breed anyway.
Design language is the same as design philosophy. It forms the design basis for the company's range. For example, the "double kidney" grille used by BMW is part of its design language. Therefore using the word "language" is entirely appropriate.
Design language sounds fine to me. Better than mishmash.
Am i the only one who thinks it looks like a hearse?? o.O
You Americans are so worldly.......Shooting break goes back to a term for wagons before cars. It is an odd name but so is station wagon.
What, exactly, are they trying to hide with that last bit of camo on the back.
I love it!
@trackman43: Good question. They're not trying to hide anything of course. These clips are all direct from Benz and this is not a scoop of any kind.
Sorry Mercedes.... Ugly from the Nose to the End.
Yes, as I found out before posting (not as worldly as you might have thought!). I had to look it up and read the history behind the term. But even still, I find that naming trend odd. Anything from calling them wagons I guess? Shooting Brake? I'm more than sure if I told someone that we had a Shooting Brake they wonder what the hell I was talking about!
BEAUTIFUL 'Shooting Wagon'! What a paradise would the world be if all cars were pretty (and electric - i love that 'sound'!)
I rather like it - 4x4 300hp diesel for my wife :)
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